The Provenance:
Cape Palliser, New Zealand
This is not just our address – it is our attitude and inspiration, our source of ingredients and our source of pride. Our home is situated in the picturesque town of Martinborough, near Cape Palliser, in the southernmost point of New Zealand’s North Island. Located at the eastern end of Palliser Bay, 50 kilometres (31 miles) southeast of Wellington, the Cape Palliser community is welcoming, relaxed, and more than a little idiosyncratic.
The Cape Palliser Lighthouse was built in Birmingham, England; and shipped in pieces, hauled atop the cliff, and painstakingly pieced back together by local workmen. It has protected generations of seafarers from the rugged coast, frigid waters, and notoriousCook Strait gales since it was first lit in 1897.
The Origins: Lighthouse Gin
Lighthouse Gin was established in 2005 by founder and original Master Distiller, Neil Catherall, who spent over 5 years developing his custom 200-liter copper still and his unique botanical formula to craft small batch gin. Rachel Hall joined the Lighthouse Gin team in 2010, and after years of learning from Neil and experimenting for herself, she advanced to the position of Head Distiller in 2014, becoming New Zealand’s first female Head Distiller.
Rachel Hall is a passionate craftswoman, unaffected by hype and solely focused on crafting a remarkable gin and sharing it with the world. Some refer to Rachel as an “accidental purist” as she is meticulous in the sourcing of Lighthouse’s ingredients. She drives her truck up to source the spring water herself and hand zests the Yen Ben lemons to achieve the hallmark Lighthouse style of clarity and smoothness.
– Photo by Sam Cameron Photography
Lighthouse Gin
Distilled with Yen Ben Lemons
Inspired by the Cape Palliser Lighthouse at the southernmost remote tip of New Zealand’s North Island, Lighthouse Gin offers wanderlust flavor seekers a bright, balanced, and unadulterated beacon – an essential gin experience from a remote corner of the world.